Seema Baitha

१८ महिना लामो जस्ट फ्युचर्स फेलोसिप [जेएफएफ] मा सहभागी फेलो हुन् सीमा बैठा । मधेशको धोबी समुदायकी शिक्षिका सीमाले स्नातक तह उत्तीर्ण गरेकी छन् । उनी रौतहट,चन्द्रपुर नगरपालिका–६,बजारटोलका आमा मुन्नीदेवी र बुबा ललन बैठाकी छोरी हुन् । लामो समयसम्म अरूको लुगा धुने पेसा गरेका बुबाआमा पढेलेखेका नभए पनि छोरीलाई पढाउन कुनै कसर नराखेको सीमाको अनुभव छ । एक्लो सन्तान भएकीले उनले माइतीमै श्रीमान्‌सँग बसेर दुई छोरा र आमाबुबाको पालनपोषण गर्दै आएकी छन् । उनी आमाबुबासँग हटियामा चप्पलको ब्यापार र घरमा हुँदा कपडामा पेन्टिङ र सिलाइ–बुनाइ पनि गर्छिन् । 

सीमालाई धोबीकी छोरी भन्ने गरिन्थ्यो । फोहोर लुगा संकलन गर्न जाँदा हातमा राखेर दिइँदैनथ्यो । लुगा धोए बापत अन्न दिँदा पनि अलग्गै राखेर दिइन्थ्यो । उनले लामो समयदेखि गरीखाने पेसाकै कारण अपमान भोगिन् । अब उनी मधेशी दलित महिलाले पनि सम्मानपूर्वक बाँच्ने अधिकार दिलाउन चाहन्छिन् । उनको भनाइ छ, ‘ म आफ्नो काम र पदले चिनियोस् भन्ने चाहन्छु । अपमानको जीवन बाँचेका आमाबुबालाई सम्मान दिलाउन चाहन्छु शिक्षक अथवा प्रोफेसर बन्दै । अब कुनै पनि प्रकारका यातना, भेदभाव, अपमान र दलनबीच बाँच्न नपरोस् भन्ने चाहन्छु ।’

सीमाको बुझाइ छ, जात–व्यवस्थाले दलितलाई भूमिबाट वञ्चित गरेको छ । आफ्नो जमिन नहुँदा दलितले नागरिकतासँगै शिक्षा र सुविधा पाउने गरेको छैन । दलित महिलाहरुले आफ्नो अधिकार आफै खोज्नुपर्छ, त्यसका लागि अध्ययन र लेख्नु जरुरी छ । मधेशी दलित महिलालाई ध्यानमा राखेर जात, लैङ्गिकता र यौनिकताबारे सूक्ष्म तरिकाले सिक्ने र सिकाउने काम हुनु जरुरी छ । 

Seema Baitha, a former Just Futures Fellowship (JFF) fellow, is a teacher from the Dhobi community who has completed her undergraduate degree. Her parents were uneducated but went through great lengths to ensure she received a robust education. As an only child, Seema lives with her husband at her maternal home, where she cares for both her parents and her two sons. To support her family, she sells slippers in the market and also paints and sews clothes when she is at home.

Seema grew up being called Dhobi’s (laundryperson’s) daughter instead of her name. When she went to collect people’s dirty laundry or grains as payment, they would either throw it to her or keep it separate in a corner to avoid contact. She is determined to build a future where Dalit women can live with dignity and avoid experiencing such humiliation. She says, “I want to be recognized for my work and my position. I aim to honor my parents, who have endured a life of humiliation, by becoming a teacher or a professor. I no longer want to live with any form of torture, discrimination, humiliation, or oppression.”

Seema explains that the caste system has deprived Dalits of land and opportunities. Dalits have been denied access to citizenship, education, and benefits. Dalit women must advocate for their own rights, and for that, studying and writing are crucial.  She stresses the importance of teaching and learning about caste, gender, and sexuality in a nuanced manner, with a particular focus on the experiences of Madhesi Dalit women.